To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the costs to the poll tax payers in Easington for collecting the poll tax in 1990–91; and what are the projected costs for 1991–92.

The cost of collecting the community charge in Easington in 1990–91 and 1991–92 is estimated to be £699,000 and £793,000 respectively. Revenue expenditure is financed by Government grants, contributions from the non-domestic rates pool and withdrawals from reserves, in addition to community charges. It is therefore not possible to identify what components of these costs are financed directly by community chargepayers.